Pt. 2- Whitey Morgan & Rachel Brooke from Michigan

(This is the second article of two in the “REAL Music from Michigan” series)

In some ways Michigan can’t win for losing. Yes the auto industry is shutting down, but they also get yoked for being “Yankees” when really a lot of Michigan and Michiganders have a lot more in common with Southerners and the South. Not to knock Yankees either. I’ve always said everyone should be proud of where they are from, because there is nothing you can do about it. Yes, the home of country music is the south, but Michigan, and the upper Midwest as a whole, has been contributing not just a few of its ranks to the REAL country movement.

That includes people like Rachel Brooke, and Whitey Morgan and the 78’s. On Friday, May 8th they joined forces, along with Pat. V & the Detroit Three, at Detroit’s PJ’s Lager House. This was one of those shows I saw on the calendar and would have killed to be at, but unfortunately there was about 2,000 miles in the way. However Misfit1III8 from Misfit Radio (that also can be heard on Flapdaddy HERE) was there, with video gear in tow.

First on stage is the ravishing Rachel Brooke:

The only other person I’ve ever known of that can convey that much pain with just their voice and an acoustic guitar is Hank Williams. Rachel Brooke is not only a singular talent, if you ask me she is a national treasure. If you’re heart was not stirred by that performance, you need to call for a crash cart.

Then the wild eyed Michigan boys that make up Whitey Morgan and the 78’s got on stage to kick ass, take names, and chew bubble gum:

I spent some good time in Buick City some years back, and I can vouch that the people up there are cut of a thick, hearty cloth, and are full of the “work hard, play hard” culture.

Some other notable Michiganders you should check out if you haven’t before are Junk, who also collaborates with Rachel Brooke in Rachel & Junk. Also if you’re into punk music with a little country here and there, you should check out Detroit’s Tim Pop Live podcast, which incidentally has been a huge supporter of Free Hank III as well.

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